Pakistan looks to spinners for win over Sri Lanka

Dubai: Pakistan are hoping for a wicket that takes turn to give their spinners an edge in the second Test against Sri Lanka starting Wednesday in Dubai.

Saeed Ajmal toiled for 49 wicketless overs in Sri Lanka's second innings in the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi last week, as skipper Angelo Mathews hit a career best 157 not out. His fighting knock helped Sri Lanka erase Pakistan's 179-run lead and set them a 302-run victory target. They finished on 158-2.

It was the first time in Ajmal's 31-Test career that the 36-year-old had bowled more than 17 overs in a second innings and finished wicketless. Ajmal has taken 24 wickets at Dubai stadium, including seven against England which helped Pakistan inflict a 3-0 series defeat on the then-world number one team in 2012.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq is hoping his spinners get more help from the pitch in Dubai for the second of three Tests. "It was a sort of a setback for both teams as regards spinners in Abu Dhabi, but I think the Dubai wicket will be different and spinners will get turn on the third day," he said. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets in Dubai on their way to a 1-0 series win in 2011.

In that game Ajmal took eight wickets and Abdul Rehman four.

Left-arm spinner Rehman is likely to replace fast bowler Rahat Ali, who went wicketless in the first Test. Despite hundreds from Misbah and Younis Khan last week, Pakistan will also look to bolster their batting after they slumped from 329-4 to 383 all out in their first innings in Abu Dhabi.

"We need to work on our batting more as we should have got 450-odd runs on the board to have a big lead to put pressure on the opposition," said Misbah.

Pakistan have the option of replacing opener Khurram Manzoor with Shan Masood. The recalled Sarfraz Ahmed will keep wicket after Adnan Akmal had to return home following a fractured finger in the first Test.

Sri Lanka have summoned one-day opener Kusal Perera after Lahiru Thirimanne failed to recover from an ankle injury. They have not sought a replacement for paceman Nuwan Kulasekara, who returned home with a hamstring injury. Sri Lanka will be counting on the vastly experienced Mahela Jayawardene to come good after he failed in the first Test, managing five and nought.

Spinner Rangana Herath will also look for more rewards after getting just four wickets in Abu Dhabi. And off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake will try to secure his place in the side after getting support from his skipper.

"We all know Sachithra is a good spinner. Playing in his first Test, it was not easy playing on a pitch like this," said Mathews after Senanayake went wicketless in Abu Dhabi. Mathews, who scored 91 in the first innings before his unbeaten century in the second,  was delighted with his own form. "I was a little bit under pressure and I am happy that I justified my place," he said.

Teams (from): Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Khurram Manzoor, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Talha.
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Perera, Prasanna Jayawardene, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Pradeep, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Vishwa Fernando.
Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) and Sundaram Ravi(IND)
TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)

Perera to replace Thirimanne in Sri Lanka squad

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International drug cartel busted, heroin from Afpak to India, Lanka

Under the racket, several conduits based in Afghanistan and Pakistan push heroin into India through Punjab border (image for representational purpose)

New Delhi: An international drug cartel was smashed by the Special Cell of Delhi Police with the arrest of three of its members and recovery of nine kg of heroin with street value of Rs 30 crore. According to the police, A Venugopal Reddy (29), a resident of Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh, Ragmeet Singh (25) and Shurbir Singh (28), both residents of Delhi were arrested recently.

Under the racket, several conduits based in Afghanistan and Pakistan push heroin into India through Punjab border from where it is carried by road, rail into Delhi and delivered to conduits like Shurbir, Ragmeet and some other Afghani Sikhs From here it is taken to southern part of the country from where Sri Lankan conduits receive it for smuggling into Sri Lanka, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Initially, a tip off was received on Wednesday that Reddy would come to Shankar Road here to collect drugs from suspected suppliers of the syndicate.

"Following the tip off, a trap was laid and Reddy was apprehended and three kg of heroine seized from his possession. By the time he was located, identified and apprehended, the supplier had managed to leave the scene," said Yadav.

During sustained interrogation, he disclosed that he has been into this illegal trade for the last six months along with his associates Gopi, Durra and others, he said. Reddy also revealed that in this month alone, he had received two big consignments from a Sikh man known to him as 'Mr Singh' and one Tamilian known to him as 'Arun', both residents of Delhi.

Venugopal Reddy provided inputs about the identities of two Afghani Sikhs who were coordinating this trade and were living somewhere in the area of Mahabir Nagar. While efforts were afoot to locate the two Afghani Sikhs involved in the trade, on Thursday a team of Punjab Police also arrived in the office of Special Cell and sought assistance in the identification and apprehension of a suspect known to them as Shurbir of Delhi.

This Shurbir was wanted in a case of NDPS Act registered in Punjab and finding the similarities in the suspects being pursued by Special Cell and the Punjab Police, a joint team was formed, police said.

"Sources were put on work and soon, it was learnt that suspects Shurbir Singh and Ragmeet Singh were present in the area of Majnu Ka Tila where they were supposed to meet another courier member of this syndicate for delivering another consignment of heroin. The joint team reached the spot and nabbed the duo. They were found in possession of 6 Kg heroine," said Yadav.

During their preliminary interrogation, the duo allegedly told police that they are members of a large trans-national narcotics racket which is being jointly coordinated by one Ali of Kuwait and one Samiullah of Afghanistan.

"Ali finds customers while the delivery is done by Samiullah who controls production in Afghanistan," said Yadav, adding, from there it istaken to Pakistan and pushed through Punjab border from where it is carried by road and rail to Delhi. In Delhi, the Tamil and Telugu regulators of the syndicate take over and utilise several south Indian conduits to distribute the heroin into the southern part of the country from where Sri Lankan conduits receive it for smuggling into Sri Lanka, he said.

"The accused have disclosed that since January itself, they have, in the manner stated above, received around 125 kgs of heroin which has been pushed down the chain for intending processors as well as bulk and retail consumers," said Yadav. Efforts are on to identify other members of this syndicate and to apprehend them. Further investigation is in progress, police said.

View the original article here

International drug cartel busted, heroin from Afpak to India, Lanka

Under the racket, several conduits based in Afghanistan and Pakistan push heroin into India through Punjab border (image for representational purpose)

New Delhi: An international drug cartel was smashed by the Special Cell of Delhi Police with the arrest of three of its members and recovery of nine kg of heroin with street value of Rs 30 crore. According to the police, A Venugopal Reddy (29), a resident of Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh, Ragmeet Singh (25) and Shurbir Singh (28), both residents of Delhi were arrested recently.

Under the racket, several conduits based in Afghanistan and Pakistan push heroin into India through Punjab border from where it is carried by road, rail into Delhi and delivered to conduits like Shurbir, Ragmeet and some other Afghani Sikhs From here it is taken to southern part of the country from where Sri Lankan conduits receive it for smuggling into Sri Lanka, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Initially, a tip off was received on Wednesday that Reddy would come to Shankar Road here to collect drugs from suspected suppliers of the syndicate.

"Following the tip off, a trap was laid and Reddy was apprehended and three kg of heroine seized from his possession. By the time he was located, identified and apprehended, the supplier had managed to leave the scene," said Yadav.

During sustained interrogation, he disclosed that he has been into this illegal trade for the last six months along with his associates Gopi, Durra and others, he said. Reddy also revealed that in this month alone, he had received two big consignments from a Sikh man known to him as 'Mr Singh' and one Tamilian known to him as 'Arun', both residents of Delhi.

Venugopal Reddy provided inputs about the identities of two Afghani Sikhs who were coordinating this trade and were living somewhere in the area of Mahabir Nagar. While efforts were afoot to locate the two Afghani Sikhs involved in the trade, on Thursday a team of Punjab Police also arrived in the office of Special Cell and sought assistance in the identification and apprehension of a suspect known to them as Shurbir of Delhi.

This Shurbir was wanted in a case of NDPS Act registered in Punjab and finding the similarities in the suspects being pursued by Special Cell and the Punjab Police, a joint team was formed, police said.

"Sources were put on work and soon, it was learnt that suspects Shurbir Singh and Ragmeet Singh were present in the area of Majnu Ka Tila where they were supposed to meet another courier member of this syndicate for delivering another consignment of heroin. The joint team reached the spot and nabbed the duo. They were found in possession of 6 Kg heroine," said Yadav.

During their preliminary interrogation, the duo allegedly told police that they are members of a large trans-national narcotics racket which is being jointly coordinated by one Ali of Kuwait and one Samiullah of Afghanistan.

"Ali finds customers while the delivery is done by Samiullah who controls production in Afghanistan," said Yadav, adding, from there it istaken to Pakistan and pushed through Punjab border from where it is carried by road and rail to Delhi. In Delhi, the Tamil and Telugu regulators of the syndicate take over and utilise several south Indian conduits to distribute the heroin into the southern part of the country from where Sri Lankan conduits receive it for smuggling into Sri Lanka, he said.

"The accused have disclosed that since January itself, they have, in the manner stated above, received around 125 kgs of heroin which has been pushed down the chain for intending processors as well as bulk and retail consumers," said Yadav. Efforts are on to identify other members of this syndicate and to apprehend them. Further investigation is in progress, police said.

View the original article here

International drug cartel busted, heroin from Afpak to India, Lanka

Under the racket, several conduits based in Afghanistan and Pakistan push heroin into India through Punjab border (image for representational purpose)

New Delhi: An international drug cartel was smashed by the Special Cell of Delhi Police with the arrest of three of its members and recovery of nine kg of heroin with street value of Rs 30 crore. According to the police, A Venugopal Reddy (29), a resident of Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh, Ragmeet Singh (25) and Shurbir Singh (28), both residents of Delhi were arrested recently.

Under the racket, several conduits based in Afghanistan and Pakistan push heroin into India through Punjab border from where it is carried by road, rail into Delhi and delivered to conduits like Shurbir, Ragmeet and some other Afghani Sikhs From here it is taken to southern part of the country from where Sri Lankan conduits receive it for smuggling into Sri Lanka, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Initially, a tip off was received on Wednesday that Reddy would come to Shankar Road here to collect drugs from suspected suppliers of the syndicate.

"Following the tip off, a trap was laid and Reddy was apprehended and three kg of heroine seized from his possession. By the time he was located, identified and apprehended, the supplier had managed to leave the scene," said Yadav.

During sustained interrogation, he disclosed that he has been into this illegal trade for the last six months along with his associates Gopi, Durra and others, he said. Reddy also revealed that in this month alone, he had received two big consignments from a Sikh man known to him as 'Mr Singh' and one Tamilian known to him as 'Arun', both residents of Delhi.

Venugopal Reddy provided inputs about the identities of two Afghani Sikhs who were coordinating this trade and were living somewhere in the area of Mahabir Nagar. While efforts were afoot to locate the two Afghani Sikhs involved in the trade, on Thursday a team of Punjab Police also arrived in the office of Special Cell and sought assistance in the identification and apprehension of a suspect known to them as Shurbir of Delhi.

This Shurbir was wanted in a case of NDPS Act registered in Punjab and finding the similarities in the suspects being pursued by Special Cell and the Punjab Police, a joint team was formed, police said.

"Sources were put on work and soon, it was learnt that suspects Shurbir Singh and Ragmeet Singh were present in the area of Majnu Ka Tila where they were supposed to meet another courier member of this syndicate for delivering another consignment of heroin. The joint team reached the spot and nabbed the duo. They were found in possession of 6 Kg heroine," said Yadav.

During their preliminary interrogation, the duo allegedly told police that they are members of a large trans-national narcotics racket which is being jointly coordinated by one Ali of Kuwait and one Samiullah of Afghanistan.

"Ali finds customers while the delivery is done by Samiullah who controls production in Afghanistan," said Yadav, adding, from there it istaken to Pakistan and pushed through Punjab border from where it is carried by road and rail to Delhi. In Delhi, the Tamil and Telugu regulators of the syndicate take over and utilise several south Indian conduits to distribute the heroin into the southern part of the country from where Sri Lankan conduits receive it for smuggling into Sri Lanka, he said.

"The accused have disclosed that since January itself, they have, in the manner stated above, received around 125 kgs of heroin which has been pushed down the chain for intending processors as well as bulk and retail consumers," said Yadav. Efforts are on to identify other members of this syndicate and to apprehend them. Further investigation is in progress, police said.

View the original article here

International drug cartel busted, heroin from Afpak to India, Lanka

Under the racket, several conduits based in Afghanistan and Pakistan push heroin into India through Punjab border (image for representational purpose)

New Delhi: An international drug cartel was smashed by the Special Cell of Delhi Police with the arrest of three of its members and recovery of nine kg of heroin with street value of Rs 30 crore. According to the police, A Venugopal Reddy (29), a resident of Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh, Ragmeet Singh (25) and Shurbir Singh (28), both residents of Delhi were arrested recently.

Under the racket, several conduits based in Afghanistan and Pakistan push heroin into India through Punjab border from where it is carried by road, rail into Delhi and delivered to conduits like Shurbir, Ragmeet and some other Afghani Sikhs From here it is taken to southern part of the country from where Sri Lankan conduits receive it for smuggling into Sri Lanka, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Initially, a tip off was received on Wednesday that Reddy would come to Shankar Road here to collect drugs from suspected suppliers of the syndicate.

"Following the tip off, a trap was laid and Reddy was apprehended and three kg of heroine seized from his possession. By the time he was located, identified and apprehended, the supplier had managed to leave the scene," said Yadav.

During sustained interrogation, he disclosed that he has been into this illegal trade for the last six months along with his associates Gopi, Durra and others, he said. Reddy also revealed that in this month alone, he had received two big consignments from a Sikh man known to him as 'Mr Singh' and one Tamilian known to him as 'Arun', both residents of Delhi.

Venugopal Reddy provided inputs about the identities of two Afghani Sikhs who were coordinating this trade and were living somewhere in the area of Mahabir Nagar. While efforts were afoot to locate the two Afghani Sikhs involved in the trade, on Thursday a team of Punjab Police also arrived in the office of Special Cell and sought assistance in the identification and apprehension of a suspect known to them as Shurbir of Delhi.

This Shurbir was wanted in a case of NDPS Act registered in Punjab and finding the similarities in the suspects being pursued by Special Cell and the Punjab Police, a joint team was formed, police said.

"Sources were put on work and soon, it was learnt that suspects Shurbir Singh and Ragmeet Singh were present in the area of Majnu Ka Tila where they were supposed to meet another courier member of this syndicate for delivering another consignment of heroin. The joint team reached the spot and nabbed the duo. They were found in possession of 6 Kg heroine," said Yadav.

During their preliminary interrogation, the duo allegedly told police that they are members of a large trans-national narcotics racket which is being jointly coordinated by one Ali of Kuwait and one Samiullah of Afghanistan.

"Ali finds customers while the delivery is done by Samiullah who controls production in Afghanistan," said Yadav, adding, from there it istaken to Pakistan and pushed through Punjab border from where it is carried by road and rail to Delhi. In Delhi, the Tamil and Telugu regulators of the syndicate take over and utilise several south Indian conduits to distribute the heroin into the southern part of the country from where Sri Lankan conduits receive it for smuggling into Sri Lanka, he said.

"The accused have disclosed that since January itself, they have, in the manner stated above, received around 125 kgs of heroin which has been pushed down the chain for intending processors as well as bulk and retail consumers," said Yadav. Efforts are on to identify other members of this syndicate and to apprehend them. Further investigation is in progress, police said.

View the original article here

International drug cartel busted, heroin from Afpak to India, Lanka

Under the racket, several conduits based in Afghanistan and Pakistan push heroin into India through Punjab border (image for representational purpose)

New Delhi: An international drug cartel was smashed by the Special Cell of Delhi Police with the arrest of three of its members and recovery of nine kg of heroin with street value of Rs 30 crore. According to the police, A Venugopal Reddy (29), a resident of Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh, Ragmeet Singh (25) and Shurbir Singh (28), both residents of Delhi were arrested recently.

Under the racket, several conduits based in Afghanistan and Pakistan push heroin into India through Punjab border from where it is carried by road, rail into Delhi and delivered to conduits like Shurbir, Ragmeet and some other Afghani Sikhs From here it is taken to southern part of the country from where Sri Lankan conduits receive it for smuggling into Sri Lanka, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Initially, a tip off was received on Wednesday that Reddy would come to Shankar Road here to collect drugs from suspected suppliers of the syndicate.

"Following the tip off, a trap was laid and Reddy was apprehended and three kg of heroine seized from his possession. By the time he was located, identified and apprehended, the supplier had managed to leave the scene," said Yadav.

During sustained interrogation, he disclosed that he has been into this illegal trade for the last six months along with his associates Gopi, Durra and others, he said. Reddy also revealed that in this month alone, he had received two big consignments from a Sikh man known to him as 'Mr Singh' and one Tamilian known to him as 'Arun', both residents of Delhi.

Venugopal Reddy provided inputs about the identities of two Afghani Sikhs who were coordinating this trade and were living somewhere in the area of Mahabir Nagar. While efforts were afoot to locate the two Afghani Sikhs involved in the trade, on Thursday a team of Punjab Police also arrived in the office of Special Cell and sought assistance in the identification and apprehension of a suspect known to them as Shurbir of Delhi.

This Shurbir was wanted in a case of NDPS Act registered in Punjab and finding the similarities in the suspects being pursued by Special Cell and the Punjab Police, a joint team was formed, police said.

"Sources were put on work and soon, it was learnt that suspects Shurbir Singh and Ragmeet Singh were present in the area of Majnu Ka Tila where they were supposed to meet another courier member of this syndicate for delivering another consignment of heroin. The joint team reached the spot and nabbed the duo. They were found in possession of 6 Kg heroine," said Yadav.

During their preliminary interrogation, the duo allegedly told police that they are members of a large trans-national narcotics racket which is being jointly coordinated by one Ali of Kuwait and one Samiullah of Afghanistan.

"Ali finds customers while the delivery is done by Samiullah who controls production in Afghanistan," said Yadav, adding, from there it istaken to Pakistan and pushed through Punjab border from where it is carried by road and rail to Delhi. In Delhi, the Tamil and Telugu regulators of the syndicate take over and utilise several south Indian conduits to distribute the heroin into the southern part of the country from where Sri Lankan conduits receive it for smuggling into Sri Lanka, he said.

"The accused have disclosed that since January itself, they have, in the manner stated above, received around 125 kgs of heroin which has been pushed down the chain for intending processors as well as bulk and retail consumers," said Yadav. Efforts are on to identify other members of this syndicate and to apprehend them. Further investigation is in progress, police said.

View the original article here